Questions to ask your oncologist

People with cancer need support and information, regardless of the stage of the disease.

Very often, confusion or emotional experiences prevent the patient from correctly responding to the information from the oncologist during the appointment or concentrating to ask questions to obtain important information regarding further steps in diagnosis or treatment. A meeting with a doctor is the best time to find out features of your cancer, decide on the next steps or get information to make an important decision about receiving the necessary treatment. Here are some questions you can write down and ask your doctor during the appointment. This will help you not get confused and get the information you need. Knowing the details of your illness will help you make considered decisions about your treatment.

Questions when the cancer is established:

What kind of cancer do I have?
Where exactly is the cancer? Has it spread beyond where it started?
What is the stage of my cancer, and what does that mean in my case?
Will I need any other tests before we can decide on treatment?
Should my blood or tumor tissue be sent for molecular testing?
How do I get tested to know if my cancer is caused by a gene changes?
Do I need to undergo additional examinations by other specialists regarding the established diagnosis or in connection with it?
Where can I go to get financial support for cancer treatment?

Questions during cancer treatment:

When treatment begins, you will need to know what to expect and what to look out for. Not all of these questions may apply to you, but asking those that apply to your diagnosis can be helpful.

How do we know if a cancer treatment is working?
What can I do to manage side effects?
What symptoms or side effects should I tell you about right away?
How can I contact you at night, on holidays or on weekends?
Do I need to change my diet?
Are there any restrictions on what I can do, such as exercise, driving, work?
Can you suggest a psychologist if I have mood swings or am depressed?
When will the next stage of my treatment? Will I need a rehabilitation before starting a new course?

Questions after cancer treatment:

Are there any restrictions on what I can do?
Do I need specialized medication recovery or rehabilitation? Which specialist should I contact in this case?
What symptoms can be a reason to consult a doctor? What should I watch for?
What physical exercises can I do now?
What follow-up will I need after treatment?
How often will I need to undergo follow-up examinations and which ones?
Do I need to make blood tests to monitor my health?
How will we know if the cancer has returned? What should I whatch for?
What are my options if the cancer comes back?

Be sure to write down a few of your own along with these sample questions. Feel free to ask questions that bother you, even if they seem personal or trivial. The more you know about the disease, its impact on your life, features of the course and prognosis, the easier it is for you to understand your condition and fight.